|
| Imaging method | Plaque characterization | Advantages | Disadvantages | Published data from patients with SLE |
|
| Carotid ultrasound | IMT and plaque in carotid arteries | No radiation
rapid-convenient
correlates with risk of future CVD | Interpretation is operator dependent. High frequency of plaque in Patients with SLE (clinical implications unclear) | Yes [22, 23, 54, 55, 58] |
| Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | Structure of myocardium
quantification of lipid content | No radiation
more sensitive than echo for myocardial change | Expensive
use of gadolinium limited in patients with renal impairment
motion artefacts.
Lower spatial resolution in vascular assessment.
Longer length of study time | Yes [2, 13, 18, 30, 33–36] |
| Computed tomography (CT) | Quantification of calcium, fibrous and lipid component | Noninvasive detection of vulnerable plaques | Motion artefacts.
Contraindicated in renal impairment
Low resolution | Yes [17, 41, 42] |
| Intravascular ultrasound-based methods | Plaque volume
Luminal and vessel dimensions
calcium content | Good penetration depth
complements coronary angiography | Invasive
lower spatial resolution | No |
| Positron emission tomography (PET) | Plaque macrophage content | | Not established for widespread clinical use | Yes [26, 27] |
| Optical CT | Plaque microstructure (fibrous cap thickness measurement) | High spatial resolution | Invasive
limited depth of penetration | No |
| Invasive MR | Plaque morphology and structure | | Not established for widespread clinical use | No |
| Coronary angioscopy | Direct plaque surface visualization | Three-dimensional view of plaque | Superficial assessment of plaque.
Risk of coronary occlusion | No |
|
